It Started with a Joke
It's job fair week in the Ateneo. The other day I tweeted that came up to the ABS-CBN booth and jokingly asked the attendant if instead of submitting a resume, that I could submit a talent portfolio instead. I was given a weird look and was told to try StarMagic. HAHA :))
And then It started with this. A video of my blockmate protesting (as a joke, of course) on the Red Brick Road during the job fair. If you can't understand Tagalog, he's basically saying that our job fairs are usually filled with SOM (school of management)-related courses, and there aren't enough to cater to other schools like SOSS, SOSE or SOH.
[Puro na lang SOM, nasan na ang COMM?]
Then another blockmate of mine released a lengthy combative note, taking the issue to a whole new level. Rather than simply pointing out the problems in this "SOM-centric" job fair, Job also presented possible solutions to how this can be prevented in the future. Which I thought was pretty okay. I agreed to most of the things he said, and I thought his arguments were reasonable and the plans suggested were practical.
And then, someone had the bright idea of putting up a silent protest. Whether it's by Job, or some other affected Atenean, I really don't know. But of course, once word got out, many of the SOSS, SOH and SOSE kids were thrilled. Finally, something is being done about this. I admittedly nodded my head in agreement and helped pass the word around.
That was last night. This morning I found out that the concern has exploded insanely out of proportion. This was no longer an issue of more variety, but some students have begun to attack the Ateneo Placement Office and the administration. Word on the campus is that the school has heard about it and is not supporting the movement. A few students are starting to speak up as well. And as I think to myself, I wonder where I stand. Is causing a revolution (even a silent one) really the way?
Putting things into perspective, this is only the second time our batch is getting involved in the job fair. 4 years back, we really couldn't care less. And while my alumni friends have mentioned that this has always been a problem, I don't really see any of them complaining that they have sucky jobs, or that they still haven't found any. Each person eventually found their niche, and they seem to be okay with it. So my question is, what went wrong with us? Since when did we have the desire to be so "involved" in the situation?
I still believe that there should be more options during the job fair, but I also believe in submitting to the authorities. I'm no coward, but I think holding a silent protest isn't the wisest thing to do at the moment. First, because it's not what Jesus would do (because He never started any revolutions) and second because it's a huge risk especially since we're so close to graduating.
I think the problem lies in our desire to have things fast and easy. I believe the APO organizes the job fair because it wants to help the students send in their resumes without having to go through the trouble of going to Makati or Ortigas. And that's great and all, because it really does make life easier for us -- I think they did a pretty good job this year too. I mean, I still did see TV5 and ABS-CBN a few days back. (although, the job offers still lean more towards the corporate side, [the closest thing to production was either as a PA or an editor] but what the heck. Thy still tried, right?) But why are we still so upset just because there isn't a wide variety of jobs offered? Is it because it's "hassle" to go to the offices and submit our resumes ourselves? What does that say about our character? Plus, isn't it more honorable to put in hardwork and effort in applying for a job? Where did that go? Since when did we become so "seniorito" and "seniorita" even during job application?
Was I wrong to have agreed that we needed more variety? Certainly not. But I thought that was the only point. The argument makes complete sense. But if I were to disagree and regret anything, maybe it would have been passing the word along about the protest. I wasn't going anyway - I have a meeting to attend to today at 2:30. So why did I? Maybe I just like to cause a commotion. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against SOM students, my school or the APO. But I see now that by passing the word along, I could have appeared to have been defiant. And that's not the way. That's not what Jesus would do. And so I stand corrected.
This is getting a little out of hand.
My disappointment stems more on the world in general rejecting what I want to do and looking down on what I love with disdain, more than the actual Job Fair. An HR girl gave my resume a "LOL-WTF" look as I was leaving. I wasn't even supposed to try the fair, because I didn't want to work straight out. But I did because I thought, "Hey, I'll just give out pieces of paper, anyway. What harm could it do?"
ReplyDeleteYeah, I wished there were more options for people like me and what I want to do and I was disheartened that there wasn't. But I think protesting is too much. I think APO did a really good job. That wasn't easy, putting the fair together. And it was a good fair. There was a little more variety than last year, even!
But Ateneo spoils us too much. Because Ateneo spoon-feeds us constantly, we feel that we're supposed to be spoon-fed. Protesting is such an exaggeration.
Jesus occupied the Garden of Gethsemane
ReplyDeleteAnon: Haha :) I don't know what your definition of "occupancy" here is but have you read the passages? Was Jesus there in protest? Clearly He didn't want to go through being crucified, and He asked. Pleaded with the Father that "this cup be taken" from Him. But there was no silent revolution. In fact, when one of His disciples struck out, He even stopped Him and healed the guy who's ear was slashed.
ReplyDeleteoh, and please don't think I'm arguing with you haha :) Far from it! That's the last thing I want. I just didn't quite get the comment and tried to clear things out :))
ReplyDeletePatty V: I hear you. I read yer status update earlier nga eh. I feel bad for what that HR rep did to you. *hug*
Whatever happened to magis? I somewhat agree that APO did an okay job this year. May NBI and SSS pa nga tayo eh. Grabe when I heard that gusto ko na sanang mag standing-ovation haha. But the sad thing is, tayo na nga ang priviledged, tapos magrereklamo pa. Sakit ko rin to dati. I'm not excluding myself from this. But we need a serious wake up call. Ayokong umabot lang sa point na mapapahiya pa ako. :|
Hi, Deb!
ReplyDeleteLong time no see! Wala na kasing prod classes. :(
I really don't think it's spoonfeeding, nor is it forcefeeding as some would say. I don't want to be spoonfed myself, and I know I can do something about the situation for myself. I'm blessed to benefit from social capital (i.e. connections via parents), and I'm motivated to apply outside of the job fair. For others, it might be harder, though--and I think that's one of the things that the job fair tries to alleviate. But it's already there, and why not do something about the inequality of opportunities within the venue? I salute the people who proposed attainable practical solutions, especially after #OccupyJobFair. We don't know how much of it can be attained, but it's a step forward.
It's always tempting to go on the extreme sides of the spectrum (read: consensus and coercion), and indeed, the protest was somehow about variety, but not solely--it comes along with things down the hill. The Ateneo always prides itself on the lessons it teaches--forming leaders to /improve/ the system. (I don't exclude the idea that gamechangers can be bred within the corporate set-up, of course.) It kind of generates a self-contradicting image for itself when it claims that it can't do anything about the difficulties of pulling off a more holistic job fair. The answer is staring them right in the face: collaborate! The "interim group" solution proposed earlier kind of does this.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/bian-villanueva/short-note-on-recent-events/10150542027999559 reads:
"People have said that this whole issue of management-centrism is bloated, but it isn't. That's how the world works post-Thatcher, post-Reagan, and "post-ideology". It is the lament of Europe, of the 99% in the United States, of the millions who work in the sweatshops that made our lives possible. The focus on profit over people, of the preserving the bottomline over enhancing human development, and moreover the subtle invocation of "the practical" reinforces systematic oppression. I am guilty, and I am one among many."
I disagree about the point that Jesus rejects revolution entirely. He spoke against injustice. He didn't acquiesce silently, and there are more than one instance in the Gospel that stand testament to this--your example being one of them. His entire time on earth was a form of "Occupying," standing up to the system as God with us. I don't think so should we. Just a disclaimer: speaking against injustice won't create utopia; replacing a flawed system with another flawed one won't fare as much as the hopefuls do. Both of us know in whose Presence "utopia" is only possible. The point is trying to attain some balance, despite the fact that we'll always be tangentially reaching the ideal. If our school is satisfied with the system, then I don't know what our background in the humanities and the social sciences are for. Opportunities for all in the wonderful opportunity we have, that's what we're asking.
I'm strongly idealistic here, but it helps to recognize the practical ways in which we can attain what we want not only for ourselves, but for others, too.
* references:
ReplyDeletehttp://growrag.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/the-theology-of-the-occupy-wall-street-movement/
http://www.facebook.com/notes/bian-villanueva/short-note-on-recent-events/10150542027999559
Jesus did make a revolution -- against sin. Haha. Just in the sense of being radical. And this too is revolutionary. :)
ReplyDelete